The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is considered the most powerful body of the United Nations. It has responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote.

Under the Charter of the United Nations, all Member States are obligated to comply with Council decisions with five permanent members having veto powers for decisions to be taken by UNSC.

However, many nations are not satisfied with the present way of functioning highlighting the need for reforms in the UNSC:

• UNSC being made in the post-war era is considered not relevant in its composition for changing times such as changing balance of power with the relative shift in power among countries.
• Skewed representation: Europe with France and the United Kingdom in P5 is overrepresented with Africa not having a single P5 veto seat in UNSC.
• Encroachment on state sovereignty through selective efforts. Whereas efforts towards sanctions of powerful nations are vetoed by P5 or their allies. UNSC was not able to penalise Russia even though it has violated the sovereignty of Ukraine, it was not able to take action against China’s belligerence and in tackling COVID.
• Lack of recognition of efforts of Countries like Japan and India towards reforms of UNSC. Reforms need to ensure better recognition of India’s contributions as it is the highest troop contributor in peacekeeping operations.
• The present global nature of problems like climate change, and nuclear proliferation need a new holistic approach, and reform of the UNSC will make it a relevant institution for tackling such problems.

Reasons for such reforms not being successful:

• Continuous resistance by P5 Nations to modify their current positions.
• Resistance by neighbouring countries of major contenders for permanent seats for example by Uniting for consensus (coffee club) claiming contenders like India and Brazil as regional hegemons.
• The issue over veto to be regarded by new members and change in institution and impacts due to veto power such as Ezulwini consensus of Africa asserting no reform to be without a veto.

India’s approach to reforms of such multilateral organisations:

• At UNSC- India has aligned with G4(Germany, Brazil, Japan and India) nations to push for reforms such as support for each other’s bids to become permanent members of the UNSC, and for representation of African countries. India is also pushing it in different groups and meetings of the UN.
1. India at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly called for a structural overhaul of global multilateral institutions incorporating institutional accountability and a wider representation of the developing countries.
• Demand for greater representation of the south in the World Bank, International Monetary Fund etc. as the finance minister remarked in 2021 while attending the annual meeting of the World Bank and IMF in Washington with the need for these institutions to be more transparent, represent and speak for countries which don''t get adequate representation.
• The present G20 presidency is also being utilised by India to take this agenda forward.
• Focus on regional institutions such as Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, also with free trade agreements on India’s own terms such as with UAE, Australia etc.

          Even though the probability of reforms of the UN and other multilateral organisations is slim, we should strive towards ensuring cooperation with the global south as well as interested stakeholders through the use of forums such as the Non-Alignment Movement to ensure our increased clout and soft power. With increased capacities, such reforms will be easy to push for.

      Three powerful members of the UNSC namely Russia, China, and the U.S. are opposed to any major restructuring of the Council. The reform of the Security Council can only take place if two-thirds of UN member states vote in favour, along with an affirmative vote from all the permanent members, who enjoy the veto power. Effectively, even if India secures the support of two-thirds of UN members, who are present and voting, it would still need the five permanent members to not use the veto and thereby, prevent the adoption of the reform process.